Bluegrass Martial Arts

Cho is first in a series, also refers to a horizontal cut
because the symbol for #1 or 1st is a single horizontal line: "-"

Shii means stance, position, or posture

Shii Cho is first position, the first form any Jedi
initiate must learn. Also known as the Determination Form or the Way of the
Sarlaac. Roughly every Force User was taught this Form when first handed a
lightsaber. This form is well balanced between offensive and defensive
exchange, but requires little footwork, thus the reference to the Sarlaac, a
powerful and deadly creature once one accidentally falls into its den.

The Shii posture of Shii Cho is ironically a vertical
position with the lightsaber. Held to right side by the right ear, the
lightsaber is vertical. The arms tuck to the ribs so as to not be flared out
where they are exposed to the opponent.

The body is bladed sideways with the left side toward the
opponent and the feet are spread slightly wider than the shoulder width. The
weight is balanced between both feet so movement can be quick without
sacrificing the wide base necessary to strike powerfully.

The feeling of Shii Cho is one of observation. Keeping you
full attention on the opponent to be ready to respond accordingly to any
attack, or to attack if the opportunity presents itself.

Shii Cho is a So form, meaning one saber or single weapon.
It can be gripped with both hands, or just the right hand, but blade can only
be forward, no reverse grip at this stage.

Shii Cho is transmitted by way of the Jar, a series of
attacks and defenses strung together in an interactive way that two students
can follow the pattern in an infinite flow drill exchange. The first eight Jars
are six counts, three defensive blocks, or Cortai and three attacks.

There are two introductory Jars that are used with younger
students to first identify the terminology of a few basic cuts and to practice
the formation and timing of these basic cuts in pair.

Sai
Mok, Sweep Mok Jar

Moon Sai Mok, Sun Sai Mok

Moon Sweep Mok, Sun Sweep Mok

Sweep
Mok, Sai Mok Jar

Moon Sweep Mok, Sun Sweep Mok

Moon Sai Mok, Sun Sai Mok

Next there are four Jars that make up the core of Shii Cho.
They are identified by the zone under attack and defended. Sectional lines
separate the body into zones left and right sides, and high, middle, and low.
There are six zones; high left, high right, middle left, middle right, low
left, and low right. The four Jars are labeled; left high, right high, left
high-middle, and right high-middle or Moon Cha, Sun Cha, Moon Cha-Mai, and Sun
Cha-Mai.

Shii Cho has three phases of training. Phase I demonstrates
how this is the form of the Sarlaac. It requires almost no foot work to learn.
Just as the Sarlaac creates its home in the sand and waits until its prey
wander too close, Shii Cho in Phase I stands still with the right side forward,
and executes each Jar holding the Saber in one hand.

Phase II of Shii Cho involves more movement as the same Jar
is executed holding the Saber with both hands. Any cut directed from the left
to right side, or when defending the right side with any middle or low Cortay
requires either an advance, or retreat step with the left foot.

Phase III of Shii Cho is complete fluidity of all the Jar
done single or double grip, full mobility in any direction while executing the
Jar, and the mastery to move seamlessly from one Jar into another.

Moon
Cha Jar

Moon Cha CortayMoon Sai Mok

Moon Cha Cho OrbitalMoon
Mai Cortay

Sun Cha CortaySun Sai Mok

Sun
Cha Jar

Sun Cha CortaySun Sai Mok

Sun Cha Cho OrbitalSun Mai Cortay

Moon Cha CortayMoon Sai Mok

Moon
Cha-Mai Jar

Moon Cha CortayMoon Sai

Moon Sai Mok OrbitalMoon
Mai Cortay

Sun Tai CortaySun Mai Cho

Sun
Cha-Mai Jar

Sun Cha CortaySun Sai

Sun Sai Mok OrbitalSun Mai Cortay

Moon Tai CortayMoon Mai Cho

The next sets of four Jars are very similar to the first,
but they include a thrust attack or Shiak. They are labeled by what zone the
thrust attacks, left middle, right middle, left high, or right high. The Jars
are Labled: Moon Mai Shiak, Sun Mai Shiak, Moon Cha Shiak, and Sun Cha
Shiak.

Moon
Mai Shiak Jar

Moon Mai CortayMoon Sai Mok Orbital

Sun Mai ChoSun
Sai Beskar

Moon Tai CortayMai Shiak

Sun
Mai Shiak Jar

Sun Mai CortaySun Sai Mok Orbital

Mai ShiakSun
Tai Cortay

Moon Tai CortayMoon Mai Cho

Moon
Cha Shiak Jar

Sun Mai CortaySun Sai Mok Orbital

Moon Cha ShiakMoon Mai Cortay

Sun Tai CortaySun Sweep Mok

Sun
Cha Shiak Jar

Moon Mai CortayMoon Sai Mok

Sun Cha ShiakSun
Mai Cortay

Sun Tai PhrikMoon
Tai Cho

The last four Jars are more than six counts and use all the
Cortai and attacks of the first four. These Jars are named after the two Jedi
who engineered them as a teaching tool to bring all the positions into a fluid
whole. The Field's Moon, Field's Sun, Shield's Moon, and Shield's Sun makes up
the total fourteen Jars of Shii Cho (counting the first two warm ups).

Field's
Moon Jar

Moon Cha CortayMoon Sai Mok

Moon Cha Cho OrbitalMoon
Mai Cortay

Sun Sai BeskarSun Mai Cho

Mai ShiakMoon
Tai Cortay

Sun Cha CortaySun Sai Mok

Field's
Sun Jar

Sun Cha CortaySun Sai Mok

Sun Cha Cho OrbitalSun Mai Cortay

Moon Tai CortayMai Shiak

Sun Mai ChoSun
Sai Beskar

Moon Cha CortayMoon Sai Mok

Shield's
Moon Jar

Moon Mai CortayMoon Sai Mok Orbital

Sun Mai ChoSun
Tai Cortay

Moon Tai CortayMoon Mai Cho

Sun Sai MokSun
Cha Cortay

Moon Cha CortayMoon Sai

Shield's
Sun Jar

Sun Mai CortaySun Sai Mok Orbital

Moon Mai ChoMoon Tai Cortay

Sun Sai BeskarSun Mai Cho

Moon Sai MokMoon Cha Cortay

Sun Cha CortaySun Sai

Kylo Ren is the most well known Shii Cho stylist. This may
be due in part to his early abandonment of his formal Jedi training, and in
turn joining the ranks of the Knights of Ren. Had he pursued his training
further no doubt he would have come to also master one of the later saber forms